cannabisnews.com: CA Medical Marijuana Backers Ready Ballot Measure
function share_this(num) {
tit=encodeURIComponent('CA Medical Marijuana Backers Ready Ballot Measure');
url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/26/thread26805.shtml');
site = new Array(5);
site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
return false;
}
CA Medical Marijuana Backers Ready Ballot Measure
Posted by CN Staff on December 20, 2011 at 18:31:21 PT
By Lisa Leff, Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
San Francisco -- Medical marijuana advocates want to create a statewide system for licensing, regulating and taxing the industry as a way of persuading federal officials to ease up on their crackdown of California's pot clubs and growers. After months of study, a coalition of medical marijuana activists led by Americans for Safe Access and a labor union that represents dispensary workers in Northern California, have proposed a 2012 ballot initiative that would create an appointed Board of Medical Marijuana Enforcement charged with overseeing businesses and nonprofits that grow, distribute, sell and test pot both in its raw state and in finished products like food items.
The measure was submitted to the Secretary of State on Thursday and still must be cleared by the attorney general before its supporters can begin gathering signatures. Backers hope that empowering a state body to monitor the industry would show the federal government that California is serious about keeping marijuana in the hands of residents who are authorized to use it. In October, the four U.S. attorneys based in the state announced a coordinated action to shutter pot clubs and growers they accused of acting as a front for drug dealers. "We think that this initiative will create a level playing ground that law enforcement will embrace because it creates a sensible process," Dan Rush, national director of the United Food and Commercial Workers' medical cannabis division. "The U.S. attorneys became hostile to medical marijuana in California and what we are doing is offering a responsible, dignified and sincere approach to the citizens of California." The proposed initiative also would target local governments that have banned marijuana businesses outright by requiring counties and cities to authorize at least one dispensary for every 50,000 residents. Local governments would be allowed to enact ban dispensaries would have to get approval from voters. At the state level, the envisioned regulatory scheme would be financed through application and registration fees, as well as through a 2.5 percent retail sales tax on marijuana and pot-infused products. Most of the proceeds would go toward running the enforcement program, although any profits from the fees would be earmarked for medical marijuana research and, in the only beneficiary not directly tied to the industry, to supporting uninsured emergency room visits in the state. Coalition members started crafting the initiative earlier this year after California voters in November 2010 rejected a first-of-its-kind ballot measure that would have legalized recreational use of the drug by adults and authorized local governments to impose taxes on its sale and cultivation. Some medical marijuana backers were among the measure's most vocal opponents. California was the first state to legalize the medical use of marijuana, through a 1996 citizens' initiative. The program created under that law is by far the most liberal of the 16 states that allow marijuana use for medical purposes. Doctors may recommend pot to a patient for any ailments for which they think it may provide relief, for example, and the state has no centralized system for monitoring users or the hundreds of storefront dispensaries that have sprung up to supply them. If it passes, the proposed Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control and Taxation Act would constitute the first legislative changes to California's 15-year-old medical marijuana since state lawmakers in 2003 passed laws requiring counties to issue voluntary identification cards to authorized medical marijuana patients and set guidelines for how much pot users could legally possess. Rush said the initiatives supporters plan to provide details about their campaign strategy and goals in early January.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Lisa Leff, Associated Press Published: December 20, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Associated PressCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help
Comment #14 posted by FoM on December 23, 2011 at 13:31:42 PT
Afterburner
That is great. I just got a new computer. My last one worked very hard for almost 4 years. They had an all in one computer on sale when we went into a store and for the price we bought it. It has built in wireless and a web cam.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #13 posted by afterburner on December 23, 2011 at 12:34:04 PT
FoM #11
I saved josephlacerenza's link to Weed Wars & will watch after I get my new computer. Thanks.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by FoM on December 23, 2011 at 11:24:49 PT
Had Enough
I think there are many people like me that just don't relate to people like him. Nothing against him I just look at things differently.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #11 posted by FoM on December 23, 2011 at 11:19:55 PT
Afterburner
Hopefully they will repeat the series. It was very good.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #10 posted by afterburner on December 23, 2011 at 10:02:43 PT
FoM #8
I found out about 3 weeks too late that Weed Wars was showing in Canada. (Many times such programs don't cross the border.) I saw a preview with Steve and his brother online. I hope Discovery repeats the shows I missed or offers some new ones on cable. I plan to check Discovery's website to see if they show past episodes.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on December 23, 2011 at 09:13:45 PT
Alex Jones
Re: #3“” HempWorld, Yup he's that strange dude I never pay attention to. LOL!””Yep...Alex Jones might be a little out there...but...he sure is a thorn in the side of the status quo...Big Brother certainly would like to silence him...
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 22, 2011 at 20:45:11 PT
Afterburner
That's good news. We just finished watching the Discovery Channel's Mini Series called Weed Wars. I thought it was very good and interesting. I wish there was more then just 4 episodes. I hope they will expand and keep covering Steve and his brother and staff.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by afterburner on December 22, 2011 at 11:51:16 PT
This One Is No Hoax (see below)
B.C. Medical Health Officers Join Call To Legalize Pot.
Photo:
Marijuana.
A new report from the Stop the Violence BC coalition says billions of dollars have been spent in the hopes of stemming the drug trade — but marijuana is cheaper, more potent and more available than ever.
AP File.
First Posted: 12/22/11 12:08 PM ET Updated: 12/22/11 02:45 PM ET.
Follow Video , Bc Marijuana Laws , Bc Marijuana Legal , Bc Marijuana Legalization , Canada Marijuana Lawas , Canada Marijuana Legal , Canada Marijuana Legalization , Cbc , Marijuana Legal Bc , Marijuana Legal Canada , Marijuana Legalization Bc , Marijuana Legalization Canada , Canada Politics News
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/12/22/canada-marijuana-legalization_n_1165566.html?ref=canada
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by John Tyler on December 21, 2011 at 22:29:17 PT
more hoax than true
I would hope it would be true and not a hoax, but look at the start date… 4/20. Usually something starts at the beginning of the month, or quarter or some traditional legislative start date like July 1st or November 1st, not in the middle of the month. It sounds cool, but I don’t think this is true.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 21, 2011 at 08:42:15 PT
dongenero
Once I see something in an AP or Reuters article I will believe it. Generally then articles start popping up.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by dongenero on December 21, 2011 at 08:37:23 PT
Sweden?
The more I search and read, it appears to be a hoax. Sadly.One day, some freedom minded country will take this sensible role of leadership and make such a headline.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 21, 2011 at 08:33:14 PT
dongenero
I haven't found a news article so far but if you do please post the link.HempWorld, Yup he's that strange dude I never pay attention to. LOL!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by dongenero on December 21, 2011 at 08:27:00 PT
Sweden
Can anyone find confirmation of the news about Sweden legalizing cannabis?
This news report is going viral but I've not yet found any confirmation in major news sources.Sure would be a welcome bit of sanity leading into the Christmas holiday!Hoping with fingers crossed.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on December 21, 2011 at 08:06:52 PT
Sweden legalizes and regulates cannabis...
Dagbladet
December 19 2011
The Swedish Parliament has approved a law which will regulate the growing, usage and trade of cannabis. This is according to the Health and Social Services of Sweden, Jonas Grönhög, who was quoted, “We don’t want to make the same mistakes which the USA has done, we do not want to be prohibitionists because the war on drugs has been lost long ago. It is better to prevent marginalization of young people than jail them for soft drugs usage which are comparatively harmless. If we allow the sale of alcohol, there is no reason to ban the soft drugs no longer.”
Cannabis products are going to be available in the pharmacies in Sweden as non-prescription medicine since April 20 in 2012 and customers more than 18-year-old can buy 10 grams at once. Growing for personal usage will be tolerated up to 200 grams of dried marijuana and larger amounts stay illegal. It is likely that this will target the Police resources on more serious crime, especially on organized crime, drug trafficking and trafficking in human beings which have been increased for lack of the Police resources in recent years.Sorry FoM it is on Alex Jones' website:
http://www.infowars.com/sweden-legalizes-and-regulates-cannabis/
Go Sweden!
[ Post Comment ]
Post Comment